100 Best universities for Philosophy in Germany

Updated: February 29, 2024

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in Germany ranked based on their research performance in Philosophy. A graph of 13.4M citations received by 980K academic papers made by 174 universities in Germany was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. Heidelberg University - Germany

Baden-Wurttemberg | Heidelberg

For Philosophy

#14 in Europe

#60 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Enrollment: 28,413
Male:Female: 45:55
Founded: 1386

2. University of Munich

Bavaria | Munich

For Philosophy

#15 in Europe

#68 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Enrollment: 52,418
Founded: 1472

3. Technical University of Munich

Bavaria | Munich

For Philosophy

#20 in Europe

#79 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Enrollment: 44,000
Male:Female: 63:37
Founded: 1868

4. University of Hamburg

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Philosophy

#26 in Europe

#96 in the World

Enrollment: 43,957
Founded: 1919

5. Free University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Philosophy

#34 in Europe

#112 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Enrollment: 37,608
Founded: 1948

6. Goethe University of Frankfurt am Main

Hesse | Frankfurt

For Philosophy

#37 in Europe

#120 in the World

Enrollment: 43,461
Founded: 1914

7. University of Munster

North Rhine-Westphalia | Munster

For Philosophy

#41 in Europe

#127 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Enrollment: 43,728
Founded: 1780

8. University of Freiburg

Baden-Wurttemberg | Freiburg im Breisgau

For Philosophy

#42 in Europe

#128 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Enrollment: 23,938
Founded: 1457

9. RWTH Aachen University

North Rhine-Westphalia | Aachen

For Philosophy

#52 in Europe

#144 in the World

Enrollment: 47,521
Founded: 1870

10. University of Tubingen

Baden-Wurttemberg | Tubingen

For Philosophy

#53 in Europe

#145 in the World

Enrollment: 27,770
Male:Female: 41:59
Founded: 1477

11. University of Bonn

North Rhine-Westphalia | Bonn

For Philosophy

#56 in Europe

#151 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Enrollment: 38,043
Founded: 1818

12. University of Cologne

North Rhine-Westphalia | Cologne

For Philosophy

#57 in Europe

#152 in the World

Enrollment: 52,204
Male:Female: 39:61
Founded: 1388

13. Humboldt University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Philosophy

#61 in Europe

#158 in the World

Enrollment: 36,378
Founded: 1809

14. University of Erlangen Nuremberg

Bavaria | Erlangen

For Philosophy

#64 in Europe

#162 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Enrollment: 38,878
Founded: 1743

15. Technical University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Philosophy

#65 in Europe

#164 in the World

Enrollment: 35,149
Founded: 1946

16. University of Stuttgart

Baden-Wurttemberg | Stuttgart

For Philosophy

#72 in Europe

#173 in the World

Enrollment: 22,616
Founded: 1829

17. Ruhr University Bochum

North Rhine-Westphalia | Bochum

For Philosophy

#73 in Europe

#176 in the World

Enrollment: 42,954
Founded: 1962

18. Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz

Rhineland-Palatinate | Mainz

For Philosophy

#75 in Europe

#185 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 28%
Enrollment: 33,132
Founded: 1946

19. University of Gottingen

Lower Saxony | Gottingen

For Philosophy

#76 in Europe

#186 in the World

Enrollment: 31,619
Founded: 1734

20. University of Bielefeld

North Rhine-Westphalia | Bielefeld

For Philosophy

#82 in Europe

#199 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 24,488
Founded: 1969

21. Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

Baden-Wurttemberg | Karlsruhe

For Philosophy

#86 in Europe

#210 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Enrollment: 23,321
Founded: 2009

22. Dresden University of Technology

Saxony | Dresden

For Philosophy

#92 in Europe

#221 in the World

Enrollment: 31,517
Founded: 1828

23. University of Marburg

Hesse | Marburg

For Philosophy

#95 in Europe

#227 in the World

Enrollment: 22,612
Founded: 1527

24. TU Dortmund University

North Rhine-Westphalia | Dortmund

For Philosophy

#98 in Europe

#231 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 59%
Enrollment: 34,616
Male:Female: 54:46
Founded: 1968

25. University of Leipzig

Saxony | Leipzig

For Philosophy

#100 in Europe

#234 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 31,088
Founded: 1409

26. University of Giessen

Hesse | Giessen

For Philosophy

#122 in Europe

#284 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Enrollment: 27,184
Founded: 1607

27. Heinrich Heine University of Dusseldorf

North Rhine-Westphalia | Dusseldorf

For Philosophy

#124 in Europe

#286 in the World

Enrollment: 37,473
Male:Female: 42:58
Founded: 1965

28. University of Duisburg - Essen

North Rhine-Westphalia | Essen

For Philosophy

#125 in Europe

#287 in the World

Enrollment: 43,281
Founded: 2003

29. Darmstadt University of Technology

Hesse | Darmstadt

For Philosophy

#130 in Europe

#296 in the World

Enrollment: 24,969
Founded: 1877

30. University of Wurzburg

Bavaria | Wurzburg

For Philosophy

#131 in Europe

#297 in the World

Enrollment: 27,149
Male:Female: 41:59
Founded: 1402

31. University of Bremen

Bremen State | Bremen City

For Philosophy

#134 in Europe

#301 in the World

Enrollment: 17,984
Founded: 1971

32. Saarland University

Saarland | Saarbrucken

For Philosophy

#143 in Europe

#327 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Enrollment: 16,604
Founded: 1948

33. Kiel University

Schleswig-Holstein | Kiel

For Philosophy

#146 in Europe

#330 in the World

Enrollment: 27,468
Founded: 1665

34. Leibniz University of Hanover

Lower Saxony | Hanover

For Philosophy

#157 in Europe

#353 in the World

Enrollment: 28,817
Founded: 1831

35. Friedrich Schiller University of Jena

Thuringia | Jena

For Philosophy

#158 in Europe

#354 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 17,345
Founded: 1558

36. University of Konstanz

Baden-Wurttemberg | Konstanz

For Philosophy

#166 in Europe

#369 in the World

Enrollment: 10,964
Male:Female: 43:57
Founded: 1966

37. Charite - Medical University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Philosophy

#175 in Europe

#391 in the World

Enrollment: 8,877
Founded: 1710

38. University of Potsdam

Brandenburg | Potsdam

For Philosophy

#179 in Europe

#397 in the World

Enrollment: 20,878
Founded: 1991

39. University of Regensburg

Bavaria | Regensburg

For Philosophy

#181 in Europe

#402 in the World

Enrollment: 20,702
Founded: 1962

40. Braunschweig University of Technology

Lower Saxony | Braunschweig

For Philosophy

#188 in Europe

#416 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Enrollment: 17,794
Founded: 1745

41. University of Mannheim

Baden-Wurttemberg | Mannheim

For Philosophy

#192 in Europe

#427 in the World

Enrollment: 11,532
Founded: 1907

42. Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg

Saxony-Anhalt | Halle

For Philosophy

#195 in Europe

#433 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 20,390
Founded: 1817

43. Technical University of Kaiserslautern

Rhineland-Palatinate | Kaiserslautern

For Philosophy

#208 in Europe

#464 in the World

Enrollment: 13,607
Male:Female: 60:40
Founded: 1970

44. University of Kassel

For Philosophy

#210 in Europe

#468 in the World

Enrollment: 25,043
Male:Female: 50:50
Founded: 1971

45. University of Ulm

Baden-Wurttemberg | Ulm

For Philosophy

#213 in Europe

#472 in the World

Enrollment: 10,164
Founded: 1967

46. University of Wuppertal

North Rhine-Westphalia | Wuppertal

For Philosophy

#219 in Europe

#480 in the World

Enrollment: 22,601
Founded: 1972

47. Otto von Guericke University of Magdeburg

Saxony-Anhalt | Magdeburg

For Philosophy

#223 in Europe

#492 in the World

Enrollment: 13,143
Founded: 1993

48. University of Paderborn

North Rhine-Westphalia | Paderborn

For Philosophy

#229 in Europe

#513 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 19,110
Founded: 1972

49. Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg

Lower Saxony | Oldenburg

For Philosophy

#232 in Europe

#516 in the World

Enrollment: 15,899
Founded: 1973

50. Hannover Medical School

Lower Saxony | Hanover

For Philosophy

#259 in Europe

#577 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 3,843
Founded: 1965

51. University of Rostock

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern | Rostock

For Philosophy

#261 in Europe

#583 in the World

Enrollment: 12,996
Male:Female: 50:50
Founded: 1419

52. University of Augsburg

Bavaria | Augsburg

For Philosophy

#263 in Europe

#585 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 19,975
Male:Female: 43:57
Founded: 1970

53. Osnabruck University

Lower Saxony | Osnabruck

For Philosophy

#274 in Europe

#613 in the World

Enrollment: 13,628
Founded: 1974

54. University of Siegen

North Rhine-Westphalia | Siegen

For Philosophy

#283 in Europe

#632 in the World

Enrollment: 17,805
Founded: 1972

55. University of Trier

Rhineland-Palatinate | Trier

For Philosophy

#285 in Europe

#636 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 11,564
Founded: 1970

56. University of Hagen

North Rhine-Westphalia | Hagen

For Philosophy

#291 in Europe

#658 in the World

Enrollment: 71,351
Founded: 1974

57. University of Bamberg

Bavaria | Bamberg

For Philosophy

#298 in Europe

#692 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Enrollment: 12,161
Founded: 1972

58. University of Bayreuth

Bavaria | Bayreuth

For Philosophy

#302 in Europe

#703 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 12,773
Founded: 1972

59. University of Lubeck

Schleswig-Holstein | Lubeck

For Philosophy

#304 in Europe

#728 in the World

Enrollment: 5,968
Founded: 1964

60. Aachen University of Applied Sciences

North Rhine-Westphalia | Aachen

For Philosophy

#310 in Europe

#742 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Enrollment: 13,671
Founded: 1971

61. Chemnitz University of Technology

Saxony | Chemnitz

For Philosophy

#311 in Europe

#743 in the World

Enrollment: 9,873
Founded: 1836

62. Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences

Hesse | Darmstadt

For Philosophy

#332 in Europe

#790 in the World

Enrollment: 16,136
Male:Female: 61:39
Founded: 1971

63. University of Passau

Bavaria | Passau

For Philosophy

#334 in Europe

#796 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Enrollment: 11,846
Founded: 1973

64. Hamburg University of Technology

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Philosophy

#342 in Europe

#826 in the World

Enrollment: 7,832
Founded: 1978

65. Folkwang University of the Arts

North Rhine-Westphalia | Essen

For Philosophy

#346 in Europe

#837 in the World

Enrollment: 1,506
Founded: 1927

66. University of Greifswald

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern | Greifswald

For Philosophy

#349 in Europe

#848 in the World

Enrollment: 10,366
Founded: 1456

67. Leuphana University of Luneburg

Lower Saxony | Luneburg

For Philosophy

#353 in Europe

#860 in the World

Enrollment: 9,620
Founded: 1946

68. University of Koblenz-Landau

Rhineland-Palatinate | Koblenz

For Philosophy

#355 in Europe

#864 in the World

Enrollment: 15,757
Founded: 1990

69. Munich University of the Federal Armed Forces

Bavaria | Neubiberg

For Philosophy

#364 in Europe

#886 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Enrollment: 2,889
Founded: 1973

70. University of Hohenheim

Baden-Wurttemberg | Stuttgart

For Philosophy

#368 in Europe

#901 in the World

Enrollment: 8,392
Male:Female: 43:57
Founded: 1818

71. Clausthal University of Technology

Lower Saxony | Clausthal-Zellerfeld

For Philosophy

#423 in Europe

#1053 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 3,446
Founded: 1775

72. Witten/Herdecke University

North Rhine-Westphalia | Witten

For Philosophy

#436 in Europe

#1105 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 2,894
Founded: 1982

73. Ilmenau University of Technology

Thuringia | Ilmenau

For Philosophy

#437 in Europe

#1115 in the World

Enrollment: 4,889
Founded: 1953

74. University of the Federal Armed Forces Hamburg

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Philosophy

#439 in Europe

#1123 in the World

Enrollment: 2,587
Founded: 1972

75. Catholic University of Eichstatt-Ingolstadt

Bavaria | Eichstatt

For Philosophy

#446 in Europe

#1140 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 4,910
Founded: 1980

76. Freiberg University of Technology

Saxony | Freiberg

For Philosophy

#447 in Europe

#1141 in the World

Enrollment: 4,016
Founded: 1765

77. University of Erfurt

Thuringia | Erfurt

For Philosophy

#449 in Europe

#1149 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 6,052
Founded: 1994

78. University of Hildesheim

Lower Saxony | Hildesheim

For Philosophy

#450 in Europe

#1150 in the World

Enrollment: 8,307
Founded: 1978

79. European University Viadrina

Brandenburg | Frankfurt

For Philosophy

#468 in Europe

#1227 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 5,210
Founded: 1991

80. Munich University of Applied Sciences

Bavaria | Munich

For Philosophy

#471 in Europe

#1238 in the World

Enrollment: 18,183
Founded: 1971

81. Bauhaus - University Weimar

Thuringia | Weimar

For Philosophy

#473 in Europe

#1254 in the World

Enrollment: 3,988
Founded: 1860

82. University of Applied Sciences Dusseldorf

North Rhine-Westphalia | Dusseldorf

For Philosophy

#476 in Europe

#1264 in the World

Enrollment: 11,170
Founded: 1971

83. Mainz University of Applied Sciences

Rhineland-Palatinate | Mainz

For Philosophy

#480 in Europe

#1275 in the World

Enrollment: 5,786
Founded: 1996

84. Jacobs University Bremen

Bremen State | Bremen City

For Philosophy

#485 in Europe

#1301 in the World

Enrollment: 1,531
Founded: 2001

85. Cologne University of Applied Sciences

North Rhine-Westphalia | Cologne

For Philosophy

#520 in Europe

#1415 in the World

Enrollment: 27,000
Founded: 1971

86. Hamburg University of Applied Sciences

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Philosophy

#543 in Europe

#1509 in the World

Enrollment: 17,125
Founded: 1970

87. Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus - Senftenberg

Brandenburg | Senftenberg

For Philosophy

#548 in Europe

#1548 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Enrollment: 7,280
Founded: 2013

88. Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences

Baden-Wurttemberg | Karlsruhe

For Philosophy

#565 in Europe

#1629 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Enrollment: 8,371
Founded: 1878

89. German Sport University Cologne

North Rhine-Westphalia | Cologne

For Philosophy

#574 in Europe

#1661 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 6,000
Founded: 1947

90. University of Applied Science Koblenz

Rhineland-Palatinate | Koblenz

For Philosophy

#576 in Europe

#1675 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 9,145
Founded: 1996

91. Munich School of Philosophy

Bavaria | Munich

For Philosophy

#586 in Europe

#1706 in the World

Enrollment: 342
Founded: 1925

92. WHU - Otto Beisheim School of Management

Rhineland-Palatinate | Vallendar

For Philosophy

#589 in Europe

#1712 in the World

Enrollment: 1,669
Founded: 1984

93. Merseburg University of Applied Sciences

Saxony-Anhalt | Merseburg

For Philosophy

#597 in Europe

#1760 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 3,034
Founded: 1992

94. College of Education, Ludwigsburg

Baden-Wurttemberg | Ludwigsburg

For Philosophy

#604 in Europe

#1800 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Enrollment: 5,620
Founded: 1962

95. Berlin School of Economics and Law

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Philosophy

#628 in Europe

#1914 in the World

Enrollment: 11,828
Founded: 1971

96. University of Flensburg

Schleswig-Holstein | Flensburg

For Philosophy

#639 in Europe

#1956 in the World

Enrollment: 5,333
Male:Female: 29:71
Founded: 1946

97. Berlin University of Applied Sciences

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Philosophy

#641 in Europe

#1959 in the World

Enrollment: 14,326
Founded: 1994

98. Zeppelin University

Baden-Wurttemberg | Friedrichshafen

For Philosophy

#646 in Europe

#1975 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 805
Founded: 2003

99. EBS University for business and law

Hesse | Wiesbaden

For Philosophy

#680 in Europe

#2093 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Enrollment: 2,227
Founded: 1971

100. University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover

Lower Saxony | Hanover

For Philosophy

#690 in Europe

#2118 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 2,274
Founded: 1778

The best cities to study Philosophy in Germany based on the number of universities and their ranks are Heidelberg, Munich, Hamburg, and Berlin.

Liberal Arts & Social Sciences subfields in Germany

Anthropology107

Broadcast Journalism40

Classics and Ancient History71

Communications and Public Relations101

Criminology and Criminal Justice45

Early Childhood Education38

Education Majors103

Forensic Science35

Gender Studies70

Human Rights Law39

Intellectual Property and Patent Law38

International Law44

International Relations and Diplomacy37

Journalism and Digital Media61

Law Enforcement35

Library and Information science102

Media Studies51

Military science36

Negotiation and Conflict Resolution52

Occupational Safety and Health32

Political Economy58

Political Science173

Public Policy / Administration62

Radio and Television broadcasting38

Special Education41

Sports / Exercise science45

Theology / Divinity / Religious studies100

Urban and Regional planning45